London Green Party are backing care workers striking for fair pay - please do support

Hello John,

I am Bile, a care worker at Sage nursing home in North London, and tomorrow I and my colleagues will take strike action for the first time. Now I am asking you as a London Green Party supporter to show support for me and my colleagues.

We are asking for a living wage of £12 per hour, trade union recognition and full pay sick pay and annual leave in line with NHS rates. But most of all, we are asking for dignity and respect at work

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We are paid poverty wages of £8.72 – £9.60 per hour, meaning many of us struggle to pay our bills and make ends meet. For years, our employers had refused to give us full pay sick pay.

That meant we were expected to survive on less than £96 a week if we took sick leave. Something which forced us to choose between our health and paying the rent and bills.

Now, despite saying they have improved our sick pay, they are still refusing to provide us with proper sick pay. This doesn't just endanger us, it endangers the elderly and vulnerable residents that we care for too.

None of us wanted it to come to this. But because of the actions of Sage's trustees, walking out is now our only way to make sure we are listened to. The trustees have refused to negotiate with our union, United Voices of the World, in good faith.

Sage's trustees claim they don't have the money to pay us a living wage and that poverty wages are simply standard across the sector.

But Sage has £3.1 million in restricted reserves, and despite us asking several times, the trustees have refused to explain why this can't be used to pay us a living wage.

When we win, we will set new standards for pay and conditions in the care sector. But we need all the help you can give us.

Please support us by writing to the managers at Sage nursing home, signing our petition or donating to our strike fund.

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Thank you so much, John, for supporting us in our fight.

Best wishes,

Bile

Care worker and United Voices of the World member

P.S. You can like and retweet Zack Polanski's video in support of our campaign!